Pelosi Tells Cuomo to ‘Just Calm Down’ About Lack of State Funding in Coronavirus Relief Bill

Across the country, states are preparing for a budget crisis as they have lost revenue due to stay at home orders aimed at slowing the spread of the coronavirus.

On Thursday, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) called on Congress to pass a coronavirus relief bill that included funding for states and localities. However, the bill $500 billion bill did not provide that funding.

“Just calm down,” House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said when asked about Cuomo’s comments during an interview on CNN’s “State of the Union” on Sunday.

“We will have state and local, and we will have it in a very significant way,” Pelosi added. 

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Additionally, Pelosi said lawmakers are working on a next coronavirus relief bill that would include funding for state and local governments. But she noted that in the last round of negotiations, Republicans were pushing for a bill that only refunded the Paycheck Protection Program.

“The governors are impatient. I’m a big fan of Governor Cuomo. My own governor, Gavin Newsom, has been so spectacular, my mayor, Mayor Breed. State and local have done their job magnificently. They should be impatient. Their impatience will help us get an even bigger number,” she added.

In his comments on Thursday, Cuomo said, “I don’t believe that they want to fund state and local governments.”

Legislators are set to return to Washington, D.C. on May, 4 and are expected to negotiate another round of coronavirus relief. However, it is likely to result in days of tough negotiations.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky) signalled wariness to another multi-trillion spending bill.